Refuse disposal container and mounting device

ABSTRACT

A refuse disposal container including an improved caster mounting assembly.

United States Patent Wendorf et a1. 1451 Aug. 22, 1972 [54] REFUSE DISPOSAL CONTAINER AND [56] References'Cited 2 F Z? F Fl UNITED STATES PATENTS [7 1 mentors i s; 531; $532 2? 2,790,196 4/1957 Rideout ..280/79.l Hicks Country Club 2,782,045 2/1957 Hulbert ..280/79.1 l Pa Schultz [22] Filed: Sept. 2, 1970 Primary Examiner-Benjamin Hersh Assistant ExaminerRobert R. Song [21] Appl' 68865 Attorney-Harness, Dickey & Pierce [52 US. Cl ..280/79.2, 16/29 [57 ABSTRACT 51 Int. (31...; ..B62b5/00 l d 58 Field 61 Search ..2s0/79.1,79.2,79.3; 16/30, Q ";i, j;f g;' ;g{ 'mpmve 1 Claim, 5 Drawing Figures REFUSE DISPOSAL CONTAINER AND MOUNTING DEVICE BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention broadly relates to portable refuse disposal containers including a novel caster mounting assembly whereby caster members may be mounted on the container without the need for bolts and tapped holes, and whereby the caster members can be mounted on the containers in a facilitated fashion by the purchaser or user of the container.

The problem underlying this invention concerns firstly the fact that in prior containers in order to mount casters on the bottom comers it was customary to drill numerous holes (usually four per caster) either in the bottom of the container or in a mounting plate which was attached to the bottom of the container, which holes were thereafter tapped so that threaded bolts could be inserted to attach the caster members. The cost of drilling and tapping these holes was significant, especially since four caster members are usually used on each container. Secondly, when the procedure just described was used as a mounting technique it was the practice to ship the threaded bolts and caster members unassembled to the purchaser of the container, and this led to a problem of parts becoming lost during shipment, particularly the threaded bolt parts.

The object of this invention is to provide a refuse disposal container which overcomes the aforementioned difficulties encountered with present containers.

Another object of the present invention is to provide an improved caster mounting assembly.

A further object is to provide an improved method of preparing a refuse container for usage.

Other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the subsequent description and the appended claims taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 illustrates a refuse disposal container including an improved caster mounting assembly embodying the principles of the present invention;

FIG. 2 illustrates a view taken along line 2-2 of FIG.

FIG. 3 is a side view taken in the direction of arrow 3 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a view taken along line 4-4 of FIG. 2; and

FIG. 5 illustrates a caster member of the type to which the invention disclosed herein applies.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Briefly stated, the invention disclosed herein concerns a refuse disposal container including a caster mounting assembly comprising a caster member having a generally rectangular mounting plate attached thereto by a swivel connection, and a mounting bracket member rigidly connected to the bottom of the container, preferably one adjacent each comer thereof, said bracket member including channeled slot means for accepting said mounting plate in a mechanically interlocking relationship to thereby secure said caster member to the container, said channeled slot means including at last one bendable member operative to be bent into a position to interfer with and prevent movement of the mounting plate out of the channeled slot means. I

From a method aspect the. invention concerns a method of preparing a refuse disposal container of the aforesaid type for usage comprising the steps of inserting the mounting plate of the caster member into the charmeled slot means of the bracket member, and bending said bendable member means to lock the mounting plate within the slot means.

DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS FIG. 1 illustratesv a refuse disposal container generally designated 1 with hinged top covers 3 and bottom mountedcaster members 5. As shown in FIG. 5 each caster member is of conventional construction, having a rectangular mounting plate 27 swivelly connected to the caster by a pivotal element 28. Caster members 5, in accordance with the invention, are secured to the container by novel bracket members 20, normally at the four bottom comers of container 1. The x marked locations designated 23 in FIG. 2 indicate the points at which each bracket member 20 may be tack welded to the bottom of the container.

Each bracket member 20 is provided with a channeled slot 25 and as shown in FIG. 2 this slot is slightly tapered to provide as tight fitting a relationship with mounting plate 27 as is practical within the normal range of tolerances (relatively wide) of such plates. A similarly shaped stop member 40 is provided at the narrow end of the channel.

Bracket member 20 is preferably formed by punching it from sheet metal, such as is shown, the slot being defined by a plurality of L-shaped projections punched therefrom. However, the slot may also be formed by a bending operation in which a flattened-out C-shaped channel is formed to define the slot, or alternatively it might be extruded to provide a nontapering slot. The L-shaped projections defining the slot are positioned to accommodate commercially available caster mounting plates in such a way that they have outer end portions at the wider end of the slot which extend beyond the end of a retained mounting plate. These outer end portions are provided with a plurality of notches defining a plurality of bendable tabs or members 51, 52, 53 which are deformable across the open wide end of the slot, asbest seen in FIG. 3.

In order to mount the caster member 5 within the bracket member it is thus only necessary to insert the mounting plate into channeled slot 25 so that it is close to or abuts against stop member 40 or wedges against the sides of the narrow end of the slot. Once the mounting plate 27 is so inserted in the channeled slot it may be retained therein by merely bending the most adjacent opposed tabs or members 51, 52, 53 on each side thereof toward the base of the bracket to mechanically lock the plate in position. This may be quickly and easily accomplished using a hammer and punch. The existence of a small amount of clearance is not harmful, even if the plate is free to move somewhat, so long as it is positively retained against separation from the container.

While the mounting plate 27 is shown as being of a generally square or rectangular shape it should be clear that it may also be slightly tapered to further improve the fit with channeled slot 25.

vantages of the invention disclosed herein should be fairly apparent, however, in particular it should be recognized that the concept discovered and disclosed herein eliminates the need for bolts and/or tapped holes (or nuts) as a technique of mounting casters to refuse disposal containers. This results in a reduction in i the cost of manufacture of such a container and decreases the chance of losing parts, and provides the 1 While it will be apparent that the preferred embodiment of the invention disclosed herein is calculated to fulfill the objects above stated it will be appreciated that the invention is susceptible to modification, variation and change without departing from the proper scope or fair meaning of the subjoined claims.

What is claimed is:

1. In combination with a refuse disposal container the improvement comprising: a caster member; a mounting plate swivelly connected to said caster member; a mounting bracket member fixedly connected to said container, said bracket member including means defining a slot for accepting said mounting plate to thereby secure said caster member to said container; and means on said bracket member defining a plurality of bendable finger members on each side of the bracket member, said bendable finger members facing each other at the opposite end of the bracket member from fixed stop means to thereby provide adjustability in housing the mounting plate, operative to be bent into a position to restrain said mounting plate within said slot, and said combination being further characterized in that, said slot is tapered slightly. to increase the tightness of the engagement with said mounting plate, said mounting plate is generally rectangular in plan view, said mounting bracket member is connected to the bottom of said container generally adjacent an edge thereof, said mounting bracket member is welded to said container, said slot is defined by opposed L-shaped projections extending from said bracket member, each of said projections having a portion disposed generally parallel to said bracket member and adapted to overlie said plate, and wherein said bendable member is defined by at least one notch in said portion, said projections are both provided with at least one bendable member, and, said bendable member is provided adjacent one end of said slot and wherein fixed stop means is connected to said bracket member at the other end of said slot to restrain said 1 plate against movement in said slot away from said bendable member. 

1. In combination with a refuse disposal container the improvement comprising: a caster member; a mounting plate swivelly connected to said caster member; a mounting bracket member fixedly connected to said container, said bracket member including means defining a slot for accepting said mounting plate to thereby secure said caster member to said container; and means on said bracket member defining a plurality of bendable finger members on each side of the bracket member, said bendable finger members facing each other at the opposite end of the bracket member from fixed stop means to thereby provide adjustability in housing the mounting plate, operative to be bent into a position to restrain said mounting plate within said slot, and said combination being further characterized in that, said slot is tapered slightly to increase the tightness of the engagement with said mounting plate, said mounting plate is generally rectangular in plan view, said mounting bracket member is connected to the bottom of said container generally adjacent an edge thereof, said mounting bracket member is welded to said container, said slot is defined by opposed L-shaped projections extending from said bracket member, each of said projections having a portion disposed generally parallel to said bracket member and adapted to overlie said plate, and wherein said bendable member is defined by at least one notch in said portion, said projections are both provided with at least one bendable member, and, said bendable member is provided adjacent one end of said slot and wherein fixed stop means is connected to said bracket member at the other end of said slot to restrain said plate against movement in said slot away from said bendable member. 